Our Story & Tradition

The Society was founded in Paris in 1800, just a few years after the French Revolution. Our foundress, Madeleine Sophie Barat came from a small town called Joigny, and you can read about her life and origins below.

The Society came to England in 1842. Over the decades various communities have opened and closed, but we have maintained a longstanding presence in a few places, and their stories are recounted here.